thompson



(No Model.)

J. s. THOMPSON.

GAME.

No. 439,211., Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMPSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,211, dated October 28,1890.

Application filed $eptember 30, 1889. Serial No. 325,526. (No model.)

-To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN S. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is specification.

The object of my said invention is to produce a game similar in many of its features to the game known as base-ball, which can be played by two persons on a game-board, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is aperspective view of a gameboard arranged to embody my said invention and Fig. 2, a similar view of the attachment which takes the place of the bat in playing the game, on an enlarged scale, its drawnback position being shown by means of dotted lines.

This invention can best be understood by an explanation of the method of playing it, it being understood that, so far as applicable, the same rules govern this game that govern the regular game of baseball.

The playerupononeside, hereinafter known as thepitch e r places a small marble or ball A in a slight depression in the center of the pitchers box or spot corresponding to the place where the pitcher stands in a regular base-ball game, while the other, hereinafter known as the batter, with his finger pulls back the spring device B, which takes the place of the bat, by which name it is hereinafter known. The pitcher then snaps the ball with his finger toward the batter, who, at as nearly as possible the proper moment, lets the bat escape from his finger and, if possible, hits the ball therewith. In that portion of the board known as the field there are a number of small depressions corresponding to the positions the fielders mightoccupy in a regular base-ball game, which depressions have guards (shown in the form of small pins) set up behind them for the purpose of stopping the ball if it rolls against them, and cansing it to drop into the corresponding depression, which is the equivalent to the fielder catching the ball in the regular game. If the ball is not caught, the batter moves a small counter as far 'as he can before the pitcher recovers the ball, and as it is impossible to move more than one of the little counters at once he moves the one in advance, and is entitled to move all the others which are on bases up a corresponding number of bases to the distance he has moved the first one.

. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the depressions marked a represent the chances a first base man is supposed to have to catch the ball. Those marked 1) in like manner represent the chances of the second baseman, those marked 0, those of the third baseman those marked 6, those of the short'-stop; those marked 6, those of the right-fielder, those marked f,those of the center-fielder, and those marked 9 those of the left-fielder. In the board as constructed these depressions are coated with difierent-colored"paints, so that they maybe readily distinguished, which of course cannot be represented in the drawings. The persons playing the game themselves represent the pitcher and the batter.

As will be noticed, the depressions in my board are not much larger than the ball with which the game is played, and there are several of these depressions for each fielding position. By this means amuch more accurate representation of a ball game can be given than where a single large depression is employed, for the ball is often caused to roll between these various depressions in my board, which corresponds to the ball passing the fielders position without being caught in the ordinary game. Besides this, each fielder in a regular game moves about over the territory represented by all the depressions assigned his position in my board, which to that extent more accurately represents the actual work of such fielder.

The ball A, as hereinbefore indicated, may be and generally is a small marble. The pitcher in impelling this ball endeavors to get it past the bat, over the home plate, and between the guards G into that space behind said guards in the corner of the board. If he can succeed in doing this he is entitled to what is known as a strike in the game of base-ball. If he fails to send the ball over the plate and the batter does not strike at it, it is known as a ball. If the batter hits it, and it rolls into one of the depressions in the board, as before stated, he is caught out, but if he hits it and it rolls to a position on the board without entering any of the depressions, he has made a hit, and is entitled to move his counters as far as he can move the first one before the pitcher recovers the ball. 3

" the various positions such fielders may occupy a in the usual playing of the game of base-ball,

If the ball, being hit, rolls outside the lines running parallel to the sides of the board to the right and left of the batter, and which are known as foul-lines, such a hit counts as a foul, as in the ordinary base-ball game.

The spring device B or bat consists of an arm mounted pivotally on a standard B and provided with a spring B which holds it to a certain position'w hen not forcibly retracted, and throws it to said position when released from the force by which it has been retracted. This spring is preferablya coiled spring surrounding the stan'dard,-lfastened at one'end to-the' peg h, and'attached to the pivoted arm at the other; 5

Its end 2'' passes close to the surface of the board in its movement, and thus if released skillfully will hit the ball as it is impelled toward it, provided said ball comes inthe; proper path.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A game consisting of a board having thereon a substantial representation of a ballfield, the lines between the bases being substantially parallel with the sides of the board, the fi'elders being each represented by two or more depressions in the board representing said depressions being arranged to permit the ball to pass between them when thus directed, substantially as shown and described.

2. A game consisting of a board having thereon a substantial representation of aballfield, with guards in the corner behind the batter having-an opening, narrower than the space inclosed thereby between them, substantially asand for thepurpose set forth".-

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 25th day of. September, A D1. 1889*.

J OHN S. '1HOM'PSON.. ['L. s.] Witnesses:

O. BRADFORD, E. W. BRADFORD. 

